"Redding was a singer of such commanding stature that to this day he embodies the essence of soul music in its purist form," writes the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, citing this 1965 album—his third—as "a virtual soul-music primer." Rolling Stone ranked it No. 74 on its list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time." Songs include "A Change Is Gonna Come," "My Girl," "You Don't Miss Your Water," "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," "Respect," "I've Been Loving You Too Long," "Rock Me, Baby," and "Shake." No wonder music promoter Bill Graham called Redding "the single most extraordinary talent I had ever seen."

"The Big O's one album that most plays like an album. The songs are strong throughout.... The Stax house band—Booker T and the MGs, augmented by Isaac Hayes and the Mar-Key horns—crackles, and Redding's voice was never better. Which is truly saying something."—Time's "All-Time 100 Albums"